Scorsese Documents George Harrison’s Material World

Director Martin Scorsese and the late, great George Harrison's wife, Olivia, team up for a multimedia homage in October.Image courtesy Abrams Books

From mashing Eastern sonics and philosophy into The Beatles to bankrolling Monty Python’s biblical satire Life of Brian, George Harrison was a cultural and spiritual innovator on par with his legendary British bandmates. That’s the thesis of Martin Scorsese’s poignant two-part documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World, debuting stateside Oct. 5 and 6 on HBO.

Previewed in the trailer below, which appeared on Harrison’s official site earlier this week, Living in the Material World explores the so-called quiet Beatle‘s storied career using previously unseen archival materials and movies, as well as revealing interviews with Paul McCartney, Terry Gilliam, Eric Clapton and more. Across the pond, Scorsese’s documentary lands a DVD and Blu-ray release Oct. 10, including a deluxe package featuring a 96-page book and a CD of unreleased Harrison tracks.

The late, great Harrison’s surviving wife Olivia — mother of The Prisoner disciple and The Beatles: Rock Band evangelist Dhani Harrison, as well as the prime mover behind The Beatles’ mind-wiping Love collaboration with Cirque du Soleil — is also releasing a companion compilation of the same name (pictured above) featuring photos, diaries and other memorabilia in concert with the documentary. It’s a polyvalent homage to Harrison’s influence, which ranges across media and culture.